Lock switch for motor driven vehicles



- Sept. 23, 1941.

G. G. HIGBEE LOCK SWITCH FOR MOTOR DRIVEN VEHICLES Filed Sept. 17,,1940

2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor eav e Q. H/fee By W A iiomey p 1941- G. G. HIGBEE 2,256,675

LOCK SWITCH FOR MOTOR DRIYEN VEHICLES Filed Sept. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H Inventor 3 1 I gear e H/fefl A ttorney Patented Sept. 23, 1941 LOCK SWITCH FOR MOTOR DRIVEN VEHICLES Gecrge G. Higbee, Santa Barbara, Calif. Application September 17, 1940, Serial No. 357,177

Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in switch structures for the ignition or lighting circuit of a motor driven vehicle, and has for its primary object to provide a switch member embodying a pair of spring projected, pivoted jaws adapted to normally maintain the switch contacts in open position, and arranged to receive a key to release the jaws or dogs to permit movement of one of the contacts into circuit closing position.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a switch structure of this character connected directly to the battery of the Vehicle whereby to prevent unauthorized use of the car.

A still further object is to provide a switch of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in operative position and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view with parts shown in section,

Figure 2 is a front end elevational view,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken at right angles to Figure 3, and

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the line 55, 66 and 'l'! of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a switch barrel having one end closed by a threaded cap 6 and having its other end threaded within an attaching collar 1 provided with a flange 8 which is secured to the instrument panel 9 of the vehicle by means of screws or bolts ID. The collar 1 is provided with an opening H through which a plunger i2 is slidably mounted, the plunger being of tubular construction and having a knob I3 secured to its outer end. The knob is provided with a slotted opening I4 extending therethrough.

A pair of locking dogs are pivotally mounted in the plunger by means of pins IS, the dogs having one end extending longitudinally in. the

plunger in spaced relation as shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, and the other ends of the dogs extend in diverging relation as shown at I! and adapted for projection through slotted openings l8 formed in the diametrically opposite sides of the plunger I2. The dogs are yieldably urged outwardly by means of a U- shaped spring member l9 having its bight portion formed into a substantially split ring 20 which is pivotally mounted on a transverse pin 2| carried by the plunger. The ends of the spring diverge outwardly as shown at 22 for engaging the adjacent ends of the dogs for urging the same outwardly through the openings [8. When projected outwardly of the plunger'the dogs engage the adjacent end of the barrel 5 to prevent inward sliding movement/of the plunger. Stop flanges 23 and 24 are formed on the collar 1 and plunger l2 to limit outward sliding movement of the plunger.

An insulation block 25 is secured in the barrel 5 adjacent its inner end by means of screws 26, the block having a screw 21 extending longitudinally therethrough and to one end of which is secured a U-shaped spring contact clip 28 while terminal nuts 29 are threaded on the other end of the screw for attaching the circuit wire 30 thereto.

To the inner end of the plunger 12 is secured an inwardly projecting contact 3| normally maintained out of engagement with the contact 28 when the plunger [2 is secured in its outermost position and adapted for closing the circuit with the contact clip 28 upon an inward movement of the plunger.

The circuit wire 30 leads to the battery of the car and the circuit is grounded through the frame of the car by means of the plunger l2 and the ends of the dogs H which will have their engagement with the inner walls of the. barrel 5 when the plunger is moved into its inner I position.

The opposed faces of the dogs l'5 are provided with staggered slots 32 adapted to receive the projections 33 on the opposite sides of a key 34 when inserted into the opening 14 whereby a turning movement of the key will spread the outer ends of the dogs apart to release the inner ends from the end of the barrel 5 and permit the plunger to be moved inwardly to close the circuit.

It is believed the details of construction, advantages and manner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

tact fixed therein adjacent one end and insulated from the barrel, a collar for anchoring the barrel to a supporting structure to provide a ground connection therefor, a plunger slidably mounted in the barrel and having a contact on its inner end enga-geable with the fixed contact, abutting 'fianges on the. plunger and the collar to limit outward movement of the plunger and a dog pivotally carried by the plunger'and releasably engageable with the outer end of the barrel to retain the contacts out of engagement.

2. A switch comprising a barrel having a contact fixed therein adjacent one endand insulated from the barrel, a collar for anchoring the bar rel to a supporting structure to provide a ground connection therefor, a plunger slidably mounted inthe barrel and having a contact on its inner jendengageable with the fixed contact, abutting flanges 1011 the plunger and the collar to limit foutwardmovementof the plunger and a pair of Qkeyactuateddogs pivoted in the plunger and releasably engageable with the outer end of the barrehto retain the contacts out. of engagement. 1 3 ;Alswitch comprising a barrel havinga confixed jthereinjadjacent one end and insuflatedgfrorn the barrel, a collar for anchoring the barrel to a supporting structure to provide a "ground connection therefor, a plunger slidably frnoimted in thebarrel and having a contact on itsEinner end engageable with the fixed contact, abutting flanges onthe plunger and the collar toglimit outward movement of the plunger, and apair of dogs pivotedjin the plunger with one jendengaggeble with the outer end of the barrel to retain;the contacts out of engagement, the

other ends of the dogs being spaced apart and, adapted to receive a key therebetween to release r *the dogs from the barrel. 7 v 'JLAswitch comprisinga barrel having a contact fixed therein adjacent one end and insulated from the barrel, a collar secured to the other end of the barrel and having an attaching flange to provide a ground connection with a supporting structure, a plunger slidably mounted in the barrel and in the collar, said plunger having openings therein, a contact on the inner end .of the plunger movable into engagement with the fixed contact, a pair of spring projected dogs pivoted in the plunger having one end movable outwardly through the openings for engagement behind the outer end of the barrel to secure the plunger against inward movement, abutting flanges on the plunger and on the collar to limit l outward movement of the plunger said dogs having their other ends spaced apart and a handle secured to the outer end of the plunger and having a keyhole adapted to receive a key for insertion between the spaced ends of the dogs to release the same from the barrel.

5. A switch comprising a barrel having a 0011-, tact fixed therein adjacent one end and insulated from the barrel, a'collar secured to the other end of the barrel and having an attaching flange to provide a ground connection with a supporting structure, a plunger slidably mounted in the bar- 'rel and in'the collar, said plunger having openings therein, a contact on the inner end of the plunger movable into engagement with the fixed contact, a pair of spring projected dogs pivoted in the plunger having one end movable outwardly through the openings for engagement behind the outer end of the barrel to secure the plunger against'inward movement, abutting flanges on the plunger and on the collar to limit outward movement of the plunger said dogs having their other ends spaced apart and a handle secured to the outer end of the plunger and having a keyhole adapted to receive a key for insertion between the spaced ends of the dogs to release the same'from the barrel, said dogs having slots on their opposed faces and said key having lugs receivable inthe slots to match therewith.

GEORGE, G. HIGBEE. 

